September 2019 update of the WDPA

Latest version

September 2019 update of the WDPA is currently the latest version available.

The total number of protected area records in the September 2019 release of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is 245,848 comprising 225,165 polygons and 20,683 points, covering 245 countries and territories.

Highlights:

Tonga: the first ever government-approved update for Tonga. All point data has been converted to polygon format or removed, and a further 30 new polygons have been added. The number of polygons in Tonga's dataset has increased from 8 to 50 as a result of this update.

Palau: a full update of nationally-designated sites, including the addition of 37 new sites. This update increases Palau's marine coverage to almost 100%.

South Africa: a complete update of their national dataset. We now receive quarterly updates of their national protected areas data. This update included 28 additions, notably 17 new MPAs designated under Operation Phakisa (https://www.operationphakisa.gov.za/Pages/Home.asp) with reported areas of between 92km2 and 10,710km2. There were also 9 nature reserves (designated in 2019) added, adding approximately 80km2 to South Africa's terrestrial PA network.

Europe: a full update of the spatial data on nationally-designated sites in 38 European countries and territories. Over 3,500 new sites have been added. Descriptive data for all polygons has also been updated, and an update of the descriptive data for points will follow shortly. The data has been provided by governments via the European Environment Agency's Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA). It is the second update provided by the EEA in 2019.

Republic of Korea: a full update of nationally-designated sites, including the addition of over 1,300 new sites.